Russian troops are battling Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region on the third day of one of the largest cross-border incursions of the war, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Thursday. This heightened conflict has increased tension and a flurry of statements from both sides.
Defending Kursk
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the military and border guards have blocked Ukrainian forces from advancing more profoundly into the Kursk region in southwest Russia. “Attempts by individual units to break through deep into the territory in the Kursk direction are being suppressed,” the ministry said.
Advances and Retractions
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian troops have advanced as much as 10 kilometers into Russian territory. However, this information has not been confirmed, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the operation around the town of Sudzha. “The enemy has not advanced a single meter; on the contrary, it is retreating. The enemy’s equipment and combat forces are being actively destroyed. According to state news agency RIA-Novosti, we hope that shortly… the enemy will be stopped,” stated Andrei Belostotsky, the acting deputy governor of the Kursk region.
Russia’s Response
The region’s acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on the conditions in Kursk via video link. Smirnov mentioned plans to equip gas stations with electronic warfare units and provide them with unspecified armored defense. Putin described the incursion as a “large-scale provocation” and instructed the Cabinet to coordinate assistance to the Kursk region.
Human and Military Impact
Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Putin that about 100 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the battle, and more than 200 others were wounded. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Ukrainian shelling killed at least two people and wounded 24 others.
Disinformation and Propaganda
It has not been possible to verify the Russian claims independently. Disinformation and propaganda have played a central role in the war, which is now entering its third year. John Kirby, the White House’s national security spokesman, declined to comment on the operation, stating that the Biden administration has reached out to the Ukrainians to better understand what happened.
Ukraine’s Strategy
This cross-border foray is among Ukraine’s largest since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Kyiv’s aim could be to draw Russian reserves to the area, potentially weakening Moscow’s offensive operations in several parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. However, this could risk stretching outmanned Ukrainian troops further along the front line, which is over 1,000 kilometers long. Even if Russia were to commit reserves to stabilize the new front, given its vast manpower and the relatively small number of Ukrainian forces engaged, it would likely have little long-term impact.
Morale and Perception
Myhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that border region attacks will cause Russia to “start to realize that the war is slowly creeping inside of Russian territory.” These actions could boost Ukrainian morale at a time when Kyiv’s forces are facing relentless Russian attacks and are expected to face more in the coming weeks.
Previous incursions into Russia’s Belgorod and Bryansk regions, although swiftly repelled by Russian forces, have caused damage and embarrassed authorities. Responsibility for these incursions has been claimed by the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, groups composed of Russian citizens fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. The situation in Kursk remains tense and rapidly evolving.
